Oxford Geranium Geranium × oxonianum 'Wageningen'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Geranium × oxonianum 'Wageningen' is a hardy perennial plant known for its beautiful foliage and flowers. It possesses a mounding habit with deeply lobed, dark green leaves that provide a lush background for the blooms. Throughout the blooming season, the plant is adorned with delicate pink flowers that have deeper pink veins running through the petals, giving them a veined appearance. The center of each flower features a small, rounded area where the pink shades transition to a lighter hue, sometimes almost white, highlighting the intricate veining pattern. The blooms generally have five rounded petals that are slightly reflexed, providing a welcoming open appearance. This variety of geranium, which is often used in borders or as groundcover, is valued for its enduring show of color and attractive foliage that persists through several seasons, continually adding interest to gardens.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Oxford Geranium, Hardy Geranium
- Common names
  Geranium × oxonianum 'Wageningen'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Druce's Cranesbill is generally considered non-toxic to humans. There are no well-documented cases of poisoning from ingesting this plant, and it is not known to contain any toxic compounds that would likely cause harm if eaten in normal amounts. However, as with any plant not intended for consumption, it's always possible for individuals to experience gastrointestinal discomfort or an allergic reaction if they have specific sensitivities.
- To pets
  The Druce's Cranesbill is not known to be toxic to pets. It does not appear on common lists of poisonous plants for animals such as cats and dogs. Accordingly, ingestion of this plant should not pose a significant risk of poisoning. However, as with any non-food plant, consumption in large amounts could potentially lead to mild gastrointestinal upset due to the irritation of the plant material in the stomach and intestines.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Semi-deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  2 feet [60 cm]
- Spread
  2 feet [60 cm]
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: Geranium 'Wageningen' attracts bees and butterflies, which are essential for the pollination of plants and the health of the ecosystem.
- Low Maintenance: This hardy plant is well-suited for gardeners who prefer plants that require minimal care and maintenance.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it can tolerate periods of drought, making it a suitable choice for water-wise gardens.
- Ground Cover: The dense foliage of Geranium 'Wageningen' provides excellent ground cover, reducing weed growth and protecting the soil from erosion.
- Ornamental Value: With its attractive foliage and delicate pink flowers, it adds aesthetic beauty to garden borders or containers.
- Seasonal Interest: It offers a long blooming season that extends from late spring to early fall, providing color and interest throughout much of the growing season.
- Wildlife Friendly: Provides shelter and habitat for small wildlife, contributing to biodiversity.
- Edging Plant: It can be used to create defined edges along paths and garden beds, enhancing the structure and design of a garden.
- Adaptability: Adaptable to a variety of soil types, though it prefers well-drained soil.
- Resistance to Pests: Generally resistant to pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Geranium × oxonianum 'Wageningen', or simply geranium, can be used as a natural dye, providing a range of colors from greens to browns depending on the mordant used in the fabric dyeing process.
- The leaves of the plant, when crushed, can be rubbed onto the skin as an insect repellant, due to the aromatic oils they release.
- Dried geranium flowers can be incorporated into potpourri mixtures to add a pleasant scent to your home or as a decorative element.
- Geranium petals are edible and can be used to add a splash of color and a mild flavor to salads, desserts, and cold drinks.
- The plant can be used in companion planting to help repel certain pests from more sensitive plants in gardens or agricultural settings.
- Live geranium plants or cuttings can be used to create natural art installations or living walls, contributing to aesthetic and biophilic design elements.
- Geranium leaves can be used in the art of eco-printing, a technique where plant materials are used to leave prints on fabric or paper.
- Pressed geranium flowers and leaves make beautiful additions to hand-crafted greeting cards or bookmarks for a personal touch.
- The sturdy stems of geraniums can be used to create small-scale garden structures for supporting other plants or providing climbing aid.
- Geranium plants can be used in sensory gardens because of their textured leaves and aromatic properties, which provide a tactile and olfactory experience.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Geranium is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Geranium is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Friendship: This variety of geranium is often associated with friendship due to its hardy nature and the way it is readily shared among friends as clippings that can be grown into new plants.
- Positive Emotions: The bright and uplifting flowers of geraniums symbolize happiness and positive emotions, bringing cheer to any garden.
- Health: Geraniums have been traditionally associated with health and vitality, reflecting the plant's uses in herbal medicine and its robust growth habits.
- Good Luck: In some cultures, geraniums are considered to be a good luck charm, inviting prosperity and good fortune into the home.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
For the Geranium x oxonianum 'Wageningen', commonly known as the Oxford Geranium, water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Usually, this equates to once a week, but may vary depending on climate and indoor conditions. When watering, it’s crucial to avoid splashing water on the leaves to prevent disease. Provide enough water to soak the soil all the way through till it begins to drain out the bottom, which might typically require around 16 to 32 ounces depending on the size of the pot. During the winter, reduce watering frequency as the plant's growth slows down.
Light
Oxford Geranium thrives in bright indirect light but can also tolerate partial shade. It is best to place it in a spot where it will receive dappled sunlight throughout the day. Avoid direct afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves, and also deep shade, which could lead to leggy growth and decreased flowering.
Temperature
The Oxford Geranium prefers moderate temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It can tolerate temperatures as low as 55 degrees at night but should be protected from frost. Avoid placing the plant in areas with sudden temperature changes or cold drafts.
Pruning
Prune Oxford Geranium to promote bushier growth, remove dead or yellowing leaves, and maintain a compact shape. Pruning is best done in the early spring or after the plant has finished its main flowering cycle. Cut back up to one-third of the plant, focusing on old or overgrown stems.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Thames Cranesbill thrives in well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, with an optimal pH ranging from 5.8 to 6.3. A soil mix combining garden soil, compost, and perlite or sand will facilitate drainage and provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.
Repotting
Thames Cranesbill typically requires repotting every 2-3 years to renew the soil and prevent it from becoming root-bound. It is best done in spring before the onset of the growing season.
Humidity & Misting
Thames Cranesbill prefers moderate humidity levels, typical of outdoor garden environments. It does not require high humidity and can tolerate drier conditions often found indoors.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light with well-draining soil.
- Outdoor
  Plant in partial shade, moist, fertile soil, and space properly.
- Hardiness zone
  5-8 USDA
Life cycle
The Cranesbill 'Wageningen' begins its life cycle when seeds are dispersed and germinate in the soil, often in spring. Seedlings emerge and establish a root system, while also developing their first set of true leaves. As the plant matures, it develops a robust clump of foliage and begins to send up flowering stalks, typically flowering from late spring to summer, and intermittently into autumn. After pollination, often by insects, the plant produces distinctive beak-like seed capsules which distribute seeds, either by self-sowing or with the help of external agents like wind or animals. Over winter, the plant may die back, especially in colder climates, but the rootstock survives and regenerates the next spring. The Cranesbill 'Wagenigen' can also be propagated vegetatively through division, allowing for faster clonal expansion and skipping the initial seed stages.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The Geranium × oxonianum 'Wageningen', commonly known as the Dusky Cranesbill, is best propagated in the spring or early summer using stem cuttings. The favored method involves selecting a healthy stem that has not yet flowered and cutting it just below a leaf joint, typically 4 to 6 inches (about 10 to 15 centimeters) long. The cutting should have a few leaves, and the lower ones are usually removed to reduce moisture loss. The cut end is often dipped in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth and then planted in a mix of perlite and peat or a well-draining potting soil. The cutting needs to be kept in a warm, bright location but out of direct sunlight to prevent it from drying out before it takes root, maintaining high humidity by occasional misting. Roots usually develop within a few weeks, after which the young plant can be transferred to a larger pot or its final location in the garden.